Happy Valley

I've had my suspicions about him all along. I think it might be because the actor usually plays baddies.

I just hope that Ryan survives next Sunday. The poor lad's been through enough. I think there will be at least one major casualty though. Catherine, Claire or Ryan, or possibly his dad.

True Calli maybe he’s just a softie. Putting Ryan in touch with his dad after his own heartache with his own kids.

Anyone else notice how shocked Ryan seemed that his dad remembered his gaming name? Such a throwaway remark probably at the time, yet stored away by Tommy Lee for future reference. I think it made Ryan realise how clever (devious) his dad is.

Next week’s episode is 70 mins long!

Ooh! A lot can happen in 10 minutes with this programme.

I posted a few weeks ago wondering about Neil having some connection with Tommy and thought the random way he picked up with Claire could have been arranged so Tommy could get back in touch with Ryan
Looking forward to next week.

And what’s with that little girl who won’t take her coat off??

Even the teacher's mother thinks he could have murdered his wife....
Those poor wee girls, but wait till we find out what the older one knows.
Who is the guy who has taken Catherine's family in? I can't remember how he is connected?

He is 'Nev', Ann's father Grannmarie

The guy who took them in is a close friend called Nevison Gallagher (wealthy) who is eternally grateful to Catherine for saving his daughter Ann when she was kidnapped and raped by Tommy in series 1. Ann is now married to Catherine's son, and is a Police officer but still jittery about Tommy being around. In this episode she gave Ryan a lot of info about just how awful Tommy is.

I'm wondering just how they can tie up so many loose ends in one episode. I feel there could be a lot more meat on the bone of the murder enquiry. I was hoping the toxicology report would lead them to the pharmacist. Then there's the Tommy storyline which involves Ryan and also the confrontation with Catherine. Then we have to sort out the two bad guys trying to save their skins, stop the drug gangs and capture Darius!

I don't actively dislike him but think he's "missing a past" and is playing a bit bland... so is suspicious.

Do you mean Neil? We know Neil's off-screen story from series two. He'd been leading an ordinary life with an office job but had an affair with Vicky Fleming (Amelia Bullmore). She had blackmailed him in the same way she blackmailed John Wadsworth. When Neil couldn't pay, Fleming told his wife, ending his marriage which lead to him having a nervous breakdown and drinking. That was why he fell off the wagon. When Fleming was murdered. It brought back all the memories of that awful time. Catherine wanted him to go to the station to eliminate himself from the police enquiries but he was reluctant and went on a bender instead. He's a weak man but I don't think there is any more to his story than an affair with a scheming woman that he has paid dearly for.

Hello folks 👋
I have a question please. DH and I haven’t watched any of the three series.
DH really wants to watch it, and having read the synopsis of HV on Wikipedia I realise that we need to watch it starting at Series 1.

Anyway, here is my question.
I am a complete wuss. I generally avoid anything distressing.
Things like Lynda La Plante spring to mind as the sort of stuff I usually steer clear of.
Am I going to find it too harrowing?
Or will it be worth it?
What do you think?
Thank you

I think you would find it harrowing Fanny, if you don’t watch much else like it. Cosy it certainly isn’t.

In the first series (I think), Catherine gets badly beaten up, I know at the time I found that really shocking. But that is life, thankfully not mine I hope, but doesn’t alter the fact that is how many lives are lived, and it makes us aware of how violent and dreadful that is for many folk.

But there again, the acting, the storyline, the throw away comic lines are what make it all a worthwhile watch.

Have just read somewhere, and I totally agree, that one of the reasons we all think HV is so great, apart from the acting and the plot, is the fact that the BBC have chosen, very wisely IMHO, to only put the episodes out on a weekly basis. It ratchets up the tension, gives everyone a chance to discuss the previous night’s viewing, and to just sit glued to the screen at 9pm on a Sunday night.

Binge watching has a lot to answer for.

‘Anticipation is better than realisation’.

Feel so sorry for Ryan. Wish someone would tell him they loved him. When he told Catherine he loved her, she didn’t answer. How can anyone be as drippy as Catherine’s sister ? Apart from her partner.
Hope Tommy gets caught and put away forever but thinks it’s not going to be that simple but very messy. Looking forward to next week, but sorry it’s ending.

Will the Land Rover have a part to play yet? The fact that Alison (the farmer who shot her son) was putting a new alternator in it has me wondering ... could it be ‘Alison to the rescue?’. She likes Catherine who cradled her after she murdered her boy.

Thanks CalendarGirl
I suppose I just need to give it a go, and see how I go.
But I think that you’re right.
There are episodes of Frost that I find too much! 🤦‍♀️ Especially violence to women.

FannyC, I’m a real happy valley fan. Sally Wainwright is such a good writer, dialogue, plots all excellent. Plus, she works with a great cast of actors, seen in Happy Valley and Last Tango. Even I watched some scenes in HV from behind my fingers, my sister hides behind a cushion. But, there are some laugh out loud moments, Catherine’s dead pan one liners, dark police humour.

Ryan is not seduced by Tommy. I suspect he’s going to try and get him caught. What could possibly go wrong

I agree with Urms - apart from wielding a mean spanner, I think Alison still has a part to play in all this.

NorthFace thanks yes, I admit I'd forgotten about Vikki - but still feels a bit thin to be honest.
I'm not quite ready to give up my idea!
Thanks for reminding me.

Calendargirl I think it's just a personal thing. I'm obviously interested in Happy Valley or I wouldn't be here but the once-a-week thing is not building anticipation for me. This last episode is the first I've actually remembered was on and watched live. The rest I had to watch on catch-up. Also, I have only spoken to one person about Happy Valley in real life other than my husband (who watches with me).

I much prefer to have the episodes all at once as I feel the drama is less by having a week between. I like the intensity of binge-watching.

Gosh it’s gripping, that hour went so quickly last night. I think the scales are falling from Ryan’s eyes. He didn’t give away where he is and now he’s been told the truth of his background, much to think on.
The acting is superb, true professionalism from everyone, although we’re keenly awaiting next Sunday, it’ll leave a big gap.

Anne viciously telling him [Ryan] exactly what’s what will have peeled the scales from his eyes.

A brutal, but well-needed scene. I was getting frustrated with Catherine's refusal to enlighten Ryan as to his dad's true nature. He needed to know. He had only been listening to his dad's version. If he's old enough to go against everyone's wishes by visiting his dad in prison, then he's old enough to know the truth. Let's hope he has enough sense to betray his dad in the end.

Agreed (about the bingeing) NotSpaghetti. I much prefer it, too.

I also think that Alison has more to do in this series - the actress is well-known and unlikely to have been brought in for a minor role.

I also think Alison Garrs (Susan Lynch) will be involved in the story climax. She’s working at Gallaghers driving a fork lift and she’d know how to scupper the engine of a getaway vehicle if Royce comes looking for Ryan. A hacker could find out where Ryan is from that Xbox chat. Maybe the Knezevics are having it monitored anyway and will help him find where Ryan is. The sooner they can get Royce out the country the better. He’s a loose cannon who could blow their whole empire if he kills Catherine or even if he’s just caught on the run. Now that Darius has refused to supply a gun, maybe Royce wouldn’t be so keen to help them as he did when he pointed police in the wrong direction over Gary Gaggoski (the body in the barrel in episode 1). More about that on DenofGeek:

www.denofgeek.com/tv/happy-valley-who-are-halifax-gangsters-knezevics/

Or maybe it will all end happy ever after and Catherine and Alison will end up driving to the Himalayas together in the Landy.